Internal-combustion engine.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABB L. ROQUEMORE AND oscnn M. FALLWELL, or ranns'rmn, TEXAS.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTIONIVIENGINE.

" Specification of Patent Patented Jan. 1c, 1917.

Application filed may 2.1916. se ia e4,e 2e.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Ann L. Ro UnMoRn and OSCAR M. FALLWELL, citizens of the United States, residing at Palestine, in the county of Anderson and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to internal combus-.

tion engines operated by a combustible mixture of air and hydrocarbon; and it consists of a novel arrangement of valve mechanism for admitting the charge to and exhausting the products of combustion from the power cylinder, and of other novel features of construction as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section through a portion of an engine provided with valve mechanism according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section, taken on the line w--m in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section, taken on the line y y in he engine is provided with any desired number of power cylinders arranged side by side, and having their pistons operatively connected with a single crankshaft having cranks set at appropriate angles with each other. As the cylinders are all similar to each other the description will be confined to one of them, and portions only of the other parts are shown.

The crankshaft 2 is journaled in suitable bearings 3 on a main frame 4. which also supports the power cylinders 5. The main frame is formed in sections so that the crankshaft can be removed when necessary. As many power cylinders 5 as desired are provided, and they are arranged side by side and are preferably bolted to the main frame. These cylinders 5 have cooling jackets 6, and bearings 7 for the valve shaft 8 are supported upon uprights or prolongations 9 of the cylinders or their jackets.

The valve shaft 8 is revolved continuously from the crankshaft 2 by means of any suitable driving mechanism.

In the example shown, the engine is of the four cycle type, and the valve shaft is driven positively by a flexible metallic driving belt 10 and a sprocket wheel 12. The belt 10 is preferably formed of chain links, but may be of any approved construction, and the countershaft is'driven from the crankshaft by any suitable sprocket wheel 14. Each power cylinder is provided with a suitable piston 15 and a connecting-rod 16 for engaging with the crank pertaining to it.

At the upper end of each power cylinder 5 a suitable combustion chamber 17 is formed, and a spark-plug 18 or other suitable igniter is arranged at one side :of the chamber 17 under the end late 19 of the cylinder. Two valve cylin ers 20 and 21 are arranged side by side above the power cylinder, and are preferably formed integral with its end plate 19. Piston valves 22 and 23 are slidable in the valve cylinders 20 and 21 respectively. The valve 22 regulates the admission, and the valve 23 regulates the exhaust. Each of these piston valves is provided with split rings 24 or other approved means for making it slide freely without leak. The valve 22 is operated from the valve shaft 8 by means of an eccentric 25 and an eccentric-rod 26, and the valve 23 is operated in a similar manner by an eccentric 27 and an eccentric-rod 28.

The upper parts of the two valve cylinders, or pair of valve cylinders, have a ings 7 in which the crankshaft is j ournaled.

The crankshaft bearings are kept cool by the water jacket, and the chamber 30 affords a space for the mechanism which operates the valves. Each admission valve cylinder has an admission port 32 which extends laterally through its cooling jacket on one side of the engine, and is connected to any suitable supply pipe or manifold. Each exhaust valve cylinder 21 has an exhaust port 33 which extends through its cooling jacket but on the other side of the engine, and is connected to any suitable exhaust pipe or manifold. A top end portion 36 is provided having a chamber 37 which .7 incloses the eccentrics and communicates with all the chambers 30. This top end portion is bolted to the top plate or end plate 31, and the bearings 7 of the valve shaft have removable caps 38 arranged in the chamber 37, the main portions of the said 5 bearings being formed integral with the end plate 31, llhe top end portion preferably has a cooling jacket 39, and it can be re moved and replaced as often as desirable, to gain access to the valves and power cylino ders, and it forms a cover for the chambers 30. An outer casing 40 is also provided at one end of the engine to inclo'se the toothed gearing and the driving belt, and this casing 40 is secured to the frame, cylinders and 15 top portion 36 in any convenient Way. When the engine is constructed in this manner, its Working parts are very accessible, alt though wholly inclosed While the engine'is 1 at work, so that. the engine runs silently, 20 and dust and dirt cannot penetrate to its 5 Working parts.

We do not limit ourselves to the use of eccentrics for driving the valve shaft, as small cranks may be used instead.

Leiaeei What we claim is:

In an internal combustion engine, a power cylinder, two valve cylinders arranged side by side at one end of the power cylinder, a crankshaft, a chamber Wider than the two valve cylinders and pro ecting from their outer end portions and provided with an end plate arranged in the same plane as the said crankshaft and having bearings for it to revolve in, the said cylinders and chains her being provided With a water jacket ABB L, ROQUEMURE. OSCAR M. FALLWELL. 

